Acknowledgment of Country About this Report
Message from the Director
Drinking Water Statistics About Us
Managing
Source
Treated Water
Verification Monitoring Program Performance
Microbiological Pathogens Results Treated Water Quality Results Treated Water Summary Statisics
Notifying the Regulator
Customer Satisfaction
Continuous improvement
Glossary of Acronyms
Cairns Regional Council acknowledges and pays our respects to the Traditional Custodians of our region, the Djabugay; Yirriganydji; Bulawai, Gimuy Walubara Yidinji; Mandingalbay Yidinji; Gunggandji; Dulabed and Malanbarra Yidinji; Bundabarra and Wadjanbarra Yidinji Wanyurr Majay; Mamu and NgadjonJii peoples. We extend this respect to all elders past, present and future, and other First Peoples within our region.
Cairns Regional Council’s 2023-2024 Drinking Water Service Annual Report (Annual Report) describes Council’s operational performance with drinking water quality, and reports on activities detailed in Council’s Drinking Water Quality Management Plan (DWQMP), including results of tests taken to verify drinking water quality.
Submitted annually to the regulator to fulfill Council’s regulatory obligation under the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008, this report outlines how Council has adhered to its DWQMP, met approval conditions, and otherwise complied with the requirements of the Public Health Act 2008.
This report also aims to communicate comprehensive information to satisfy the needs of individuals and groups who have an interest in Cairns Regional Council’s drinking water, including:
• Our customers
• Current, past and future employees
• Government
• The water industry
• Businesses and other industry
• Researchers
A glossary of acronyms is available after the report.
On behalf of Cairns Regional Council, I am pleased to present our Annual Drinking Water Quality Report for 2023-2024. The provision of safe drinking water and protection of human health remain a priority for Council. The information provided in this report demonstrates Council’s ongoing commitment to its role in catchment to tap risk management of drinking water across our local government area.
The past year presented challenges to water service delivery. Tropical Cyclone (TC) Jasper, the wettest cyclone on record, drenched the Cairns region in December 2023, causing extensive flooding to several Cairns suburbs. Homes were lost, infrastructure severely damaged and people’s lives impacted following one of the most devastating natural disasters the region has ever experienced. Ongoing wet season rainfall contributed to impacts in the raw water catchments and exacerbated the time taken to repair damages in the potable water networks.
However, whilst this year could be typified by our response to a changing environment, it has not stopped us from making significant planning decisions that will leave a legacy for future generations.
During 2023-2024, some of our achievements included:
• Progression of the Cairns Water Security Stage 1 (CWSS1). CWSS1 will supplement Cairns city’s current water supply from Copperlode Falls Dam by sourcing new water from the Mulgrave River at Gordonvale, which along with the existing Behana Creek supply, will be processed at a new water treatment plant before being delivered into the existing water reticulation network. In December 2023, after a major
procurement, we awarded the design and construct contract and all stakeholders have progressed efficiently and successfully with the goal of breaking ground in August 2024
• Commencement of the Rural Water Security Strategy
• Progression of the Cairns Emergency Water Supply Plan
• Delivering asset improvements on critical water infrastructure:
o Freshwater Water Treatment Plant filter refurbishment
o Water main refurbishments
o Bulk water reservoir upgrades
• Continued implementation of demand management initiatives:
o Network leak detection and repair programs
o Installation of smart water meters
o Community education
Our organisation continues to be an efficient and supportive workplace that works together to deliver excellent customer service. We have a strong emphasis on meeting stringent regulatory demands and satisfying customer expectations. We are privileged to service the people of the Carins local government area and I thank all teams at Cairns Regional Council for their continued dedication and professionalism.
$61.3 MILLION
DRINKING WATER REVENUE SALE OF POTABLE WATER
$1.4 BILLION REPLACEMENT COST OF WATER SUPPLY ASSETS
$49 MILLION SPENT ON CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
$620 TYPICAL WATER BILL BASED ON 200 KL PER ANNUM WATER USE
9 DRINKING WATER SUPPLIED
27,032 ML 109 ML
2 CUSTOMER WATER QUALITY COMPLAINTS PER 1000 CONNECTIONS DRINKING WATER SUPPLY SCHEMES
2,288 KM LENGTH OF WATER MAINS
175,398 POPULATION RECEIVING WATER SERVICES
35,890 WATER QUALITY TESTS CODUCTED
76,270 PROPERTIES CONNECTED
year.
Cairns Regional Council is responsible for delivering drinking water, sewerage, and recycled water services to a population of over 170 000. Our 1 687km2 geographic area is framed by the World Heritage listed Wet Tropics rainforest to the west and north, and the Coral Sea and World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef Marine Park to the east.
Cairns Regional Council maintains a Drinking Water Quality Management System that is consistent with the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) (2011), National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. The DWQMS utilises a risk-based “catchment to tap” approach to identify and manage potential risks associated with drinking water quality. This is achieved through partnership with our stakeholders and relevant agencies, by:
• Considering the needs and expectations of our customers, stakeholders, regulators, and employees, and planning for appropriate solutions to provide and maintain supply of safe water
• Undertaking regular monitoring of drinking water quality and maintaining effective reporting mechanisms; to provide relevant and timely information about, and confidence in, the management of the water supply systems
• Designing appropriate contingency plans and incident response capabilities, which are in place to respond to and manage any water quality incidents
• Auditing and reviewing our practices against both industry standards and stakeholder expectations to continually improve our performance
• Maintaining competencies of council employees to perpetuate and elevate knowledge about water quality, treatment standards and compliance procedures
• Communicating our performance to the community openly to encourage public awareness.
• Responding to customer requests and reviewing any network trends
This Annual Report describes our performance in the supply of drinking water for the 2023-2024 financial year.
Cairns Regional Council provides drinking water under nine water supply ‘schemes’. Supply of drinking water starts at each scheme’s waterway intake point, then passes through treatment plants, bulk storage reservoirs, and water distribution networks, concluding at water meters ready for customer demand. The Copperlode/ Behana scheme is Council’s largest, servicing a large footprint which includes the city of Cairns. A map of Council’s drinking water schemes is shown in Figure 1 and additional scheme information is available as Table 1. Legend Intakes Water Schemes
Copperlode/ Behana
Copperlode Dam via Freshwater Creek Goldsborough, Gordonvale, Bessie Point, the suburbs of greater Cairns from Edmonton in the South to Buchans Point in the North
The supply of safe and reliable drinking water in Queensland is regulated by state government legislation, including the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008 and the Public Health Act 2005. Health guideline values set by the national ADWG are incorporated into the Queensland drinking water quality criteria through the Public Health Regulation 2018.
Under the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008, the Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers (DLGWV) approves Council’s DWQMP and regulates that drinking water services are conducted in accordance with the approved plan. Queensland Health further regulates drinking water quality to protect public health under the Public Health Act 2005, including application of an established E. coli standard.
Cairns Regional Council systematically manages drinking water quality and compliance, with the primary aim to provide consistently safe drinking water supply to our customers. This is achieved through a developed Drinking Water Quality Management System (DWQMS), based on the ADWG’s Framework for Management of Drinking Water Quality
Council’s DWQMS is a structured framework that encompasses planning, operations, monitoring, and response. It defines roles and responsibilities and underpins the setting of priorities and allocation of resources. The overall systems-management approach of our DWQMS is based on the following core elements:
• Organisational commitment
• Planning and risk assessment
• Asset management and renewal
• Hazard analysis and critical controls
• Preventative measures
• Monitoring and verification
• Information management
• Incident management
• Continuous improvement
Council’s Drinking Water Quality General Policy, endorsed by the Chief Executive Officer, is “to support the implementation and maintenance of a Drinking Water Quality Management System consistent with the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.”
The policy assigns responsibility for the management of drinking water quality to all Cairns Infrastructure and Assets (CIA) Directorate staff whilst acknowledging that corporate responsibility lies with the Management team and ultimately the Chief Executive Officer.
The policy is available to the public via the following link: https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/9200/ Drinking-Water-Quality-General-Policy.pdf
Table 2 lists those CIA Directorate, Management and Coordination team members responsible for overseeing the implementation of the DWQMS, executed in accordance with their defined high-level responsibilities. Internal stakeholders directly involved in the maintenance of safe drinking water supply to the community are also listed.
Director Cairns Infrastructure & Assets
Associate Director Service Delivery
Associate Director Engineering Services
Executive Manager Utility Services*
Executive Manager Business Performance and Compliance*
Executive Manager Strategic Asset Management & Planning
Executive Manager Project Management Office
Utility Services Optimisation Manager*
Overall responsibility. System governance. System sign-off.
Overall responsibility. System governance. System sign-off. Local Disaster Management Group representative.
Overall responsibility. System governance. System sign-off.
Overall responsibility for operation system and governance. System sign-off.
Overall responsibility for quality system and governance. System signoff.
Overall responsibility for strategic asset management and planning.
Overall responsibility for project delivery of drinking water assets.
Technical advice and support relevant to water supply and treatment operations and special projects.
Coordinator Asset Information Management* Asset management.
Water Services Coordinator*
Process and Treatment Coordinator*
SCADA Coordinator*
Coordinator Strategic Asset Management and Planning*
Operational management and process controller of rural systems and reticulation network.
Operational management and process controller of treatment systems.
Maintain Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems. Technical advice regarding SCADA systems.
Strategic drinking water asset management and planning of water infrastructure.
Coordinator Program Delivery* Delivery of capital works program.
Laboratory Manager
Team Leader Demand Management*
Team Leader Water and Environment*
Treatment Operators
Water Services Officers
Process Engineer Water*
Water and Environment Systems Officers*
*Drinking Water Quality Coordination Team
Laboratory testing processes. Technical expertise regarding viability of samples and test capabilities.
Water delivery management and technical advice.
System support. Regulatory liaison, maintenance of systems, internal auditing.
Administer controls in accordance with the approved documented processes.
Administer controls in accordance with the approved documented processes.
Technical advice for treatment system operations and processes.
System and regulatory support, advice, and investigations.
A DWQMP lays out the detailed actions and measures Council undertakes to manage water quality risks at each stage of the water supply process, including hazard identification and risk assessment methodology, verification and operational monitoring plans, documented control measures, and emergency response plans. The DWQMP serves as a functional document for application of the DWQMS, formalising the links between Council’s daily work activities and the operational procedures that outline performance requirements.
The Director of CIA holds overall responsibility for implementation of the approved plan, supported by the key operational staff and subject matter experts identified in Table 2. A qualified and experienced team is responsible for coordinating the DWQMP. This *Drinking Water Coordination Team convenes quarterly and reports to the subsequent CIA Directorate quarterly meetings.
Drinking water customer service performance data is compiled monthly and reported quarterly to Council. Data includes mains breaks, unplanned interruptions, response times, and water quality complaints as well as reportable drinking water non-compliances.
A training schedule outlines the minimum requirements for individual roles. Recognised as a critical element of maintaining supply of safe drinking water, Council’s DWQMP commits to drinking water quality awareness training for relevant staff. During 2023-2024:
• Drinking Water Quality Management Systems (12 Elements) awareness training continued
• Drinking Water Quality Duty of Care training was internally delivered
• Drinking Water Quality Incident Management was internally delivered
• All new employees underwent corporate induction onboarding which provides an overview of Council’s responsibilities and commitments as a Water Service Provider
• The Aqua Card online course was made available and promoted to all water employees
• Development of the process to review, update and enhance skills analysis for Water Services and Treatment personnel commenced
Wherever possible, Council staff also participate in industry training events and conferences, to maintain professional development and to network with contemporaries from across the water sector. Events attended in the 2023-2024 reporting period include:
• FNQROC Water Sub-group Meetings
• Australian Water Association - North Queensland Conference, 15 & 16 August 2023
• DLGWV Water Supply Regulation – Drinking Water Regulation Workshop, 23 April 2024
• Australian Water Association - Ozwater, 30 April to 2 May 2024
The first step in an effective DWQMS is understanding the hazards associated with the natural water sources from which the drinking water supply is drawn. Council addresses this through an extensive monitoring program, which enables both quantitative and qualitative risk assessments within the catchments to determine appropriate treatment requirements. A general summary of the Council’s Source Water Monitoring Program is provided as Table 3, followed by summary statistics for each scheme.
Babinda, Bartle Frere, Bellenden Ker, Bramston Beach, Fishery Falls, Mirriwinni, Mountain View, Orchid Valley
E. coli
Copperlode/ Behana
Cryptosporidium
Giardia
Temperature
Turbidity
Iron
Manganese
Silicon
Calcium
Magnesium
Potassium
Sodium
Total hardness
Total dissolved salts
Colour
Electrical conductance
pH
Total alkalinity
Sulphate
Chloride
Fluoride
Cryptosporidium
Giardia
Turbidity
E. coli and total coliforms
Aluminium (total & dissolved)
Blue-green algae
Calcium
Colour
Dissolved organic carbon
Iron (total & dissolved)
Magnesium
Manganese (total & dissolved)
pH
Total alkalinity
Total hardness
Total nitrogen
Total organic carbon
Total oxidised nitrogen
Colour
E. coli and total coliforms
Electrical conductance
Heterotrophic plate count
Iron
Manganese
pH
Turbidity
Dissolved oxygen
Temperature
Sulphide
Alkalinity
Ammonia
Blue-green algae
Chlorophyll a
Ortho phosphate
Total nitrogen
Total oxidised nitrogen
Total phosphorous
Thermotolerant coliforms
Arsenic
Calcium
Chloride
Magnesium
Organochlorine pesticides
Organophosphate pesticides
Potassium
Silicon
Sodium
Sulphate
Tin
Total dissolved salts
Total hardness
Monthly
Quarterly
Weekly
Fortnightly
Monthly
Weekly
Monthly
Quarterly
Six monthly
Tables 4 through 12 summarise the results of Council’s Source Water Monitoring Program for each water source.
Table 4: Babinda Source Water Summary Statistics
Table 5: Bartle Frere Source Water Summary Statistics
*Parameter duplication can occur due to variations in how laboratories test and report data. The identified results may be considered directly comparable for the purpose of this report.
9: Fishery Falls Source Water Summary Statistics
Council has implemented a multi-barrier treatment system for each water scheme, incorporating catchment protection, particle filtration, media filtration, ultraviolet disinfection, chlorine disinfection, and distribution system protection measures, as appropriate for each scheme. Treated water is then subject to a comprehensive monitoring program of those substances that may be present which would have the potential to pose a risk to public health or affect optimal water quality, as identified using a risk management approach.
This Verification Monitoring Program (VMP) validates that the selected treatment barriers and preventive measures in place to protect public health have performed effectively, and that safe drinking water which complies with ADWG water quality criteria is distributed to Council’s customers. In addition, the VMP evaluates non-health-related factors that affect water’s taste, smell, and appearance. These “aesthetic” guideline values serve as quality indicators, helping Council identify opportunities for improvement.
Monitored parameter trends are regularly tracked against both the health-related and the aesthetic limits set by the ADWG. The VMP is conducted by NATA-accredited staff from Cairns Regional Council Laboratory Services. A general summary of the monitoring schedule is provided as Table 13. Our performance against the VMP follows, along with microbiological pathogen results, trends of key parameters, and summary statistics of the treated water for each scheme.
Alkalinity*
Chlorine (free & total)
Colour
E. coli and total coliforms
Electrical Conductivity*
Heterotrophic plate count
pH
Reticulation network
Turbidity Weekly
Aluminium
Chlorate*
Manganese
Alkalinity
Chlorine (free & total)
E. coli and total coliforms
Heterotrophic plate count
pH
Temperature
Colour**
Turbidity**
Aluminium**
Reservoirs
Monthly
Manganese** Weekly
Chlorite
Ammonia
Six monthly**
Sulphate
Zinc
Total
Table 14 summarises the number of water quality tests conducted under Council’s VMP during the reporting period, compared against the number of tests Council’s DWQMP stipulates. Although every effort is made to adhere strictly to the VMP, circumstances occasionally prevent samples being collected, and in these instances a “no-sample” is reported by the Laboratory. The VMP has been designed with a degree of flexibility which allows for several “no-sample” events per year in each scheme.
The timing of sample collection either side of the financial year reporting period can result in discrepancies between planned and actual sample numbers. In some cases, duplicate samples are also collected by the laboratory for quality control and statistical analysis purposes. Parameters where there is no ‘Number samples planned to be collected as per DWQMP’ specified are generally additional tests, conducted as a result of another test. For example, true colour is generally only tested when apparent colour exceeds a certain threshold.
Council has Business Continuity Plans in place to ensure that essential services can be maintained during periods of interruption. At certain times a reduced VMP that maintains sufficient testing to protect public health and meet regulatory requirements may need to be implemented. Any reduction to monitoring requires Executive Manager level approval. If the sampling program change is significant or there is a possibility that the statutory minimum requirements may not be met, Council must collaborate with Queensland Health to create a mutually acceptable short-term solution.
ADWG aesthetic and health guideline values have been provided where available, and commentary made where these values were not met. Where a test result does not meet an ADWG health guideline value, the regulator must be notified and an investigation undertaken. Investigation findings and improvements are discussed in the ‘Notifying the Regulator’ section of this report.
Scheme Parameter
This exceedance of the ADWG aesthetic limit occurred while a partial treatment bypass was in place, with customers subject to a Boil Water Advisory. A resample was taken and showed results had returned to within ADWG limits. Further detail on the bypass event can be found in the Notifying the Regulator section.
The majority of aesthetic exceedances in this scheme fall just below the guideline limit. Drinking water with a pH below 6.5 can affect the solubility of heavy metals and result in corrosion. Council routinely monitors for metals in the drinking water system to ensure that the quality of water supplied is not compromised by low pH.
Beach
Amoeba - Naegleria
Amoeba - Thermophilic Amoeba 13 12
Amoeba speciationNaegleria fowleri
Queensland Health has established an interim guideline value for chlorate concentrations in drinking water. During investigative monitoring in the Bellenden Ker scheme, two exceedances were detected. These were reported to the regulator and are detailed further in the Notifying the Regulator section.
Aesthetic exceedances are commonly associated with an interaction between the water and cement lined pipes in the reticulation network. Alkaline water above a pH of 8 can impair the efficiency of chlorine disinfection. Council closely monitors disinfection performance through testing microbial indicators to ensure the effectiveness of chlorine is not compromised by elevated pH.
Naegleria testing is completed every four weeks at one site in the Bramston Beach scheme. Naegleria testing involves firstly testing for the presence of Thermophilic Amoeba in a sample. If Thermophilic Amoeba are detected, further testing is performed to determine if certain species are present; Naegleria fowleri and/or Naegleria spp The 12 samples collected and tested for ‘Amoeba - Thermophilic Amoeba’ indicate the total number of samples collected under Naegleria testing. Thermophilic Amoeba was detected in a single sample, requiring speciation. Neither Naegleria fowleri or Naegleria spp. were present.
Queensland Health has established an interim guideline value for chlorate concentrations in drinking water. During investigative monitoring in the Bramston Beach scheme, a single exceedance was detected. This was reported to the regulator and is detailed further in the Notifying the Regulator section.
Behana
Amoeba - Naegleria
- thermophilic
Naegleria testing is completed every four weeks at six sites in the Copperlode/Behana scheme. Of the 75 samples tested, there were no detections of Thermophilic Amoeba.
An estimated 2CFU/100mL of E. coli was detected in a routine verification monitoring sample collected from Robson Street Reservoir on 14 December 2024. This was reported as an incident and is detailed further in the Notifying the Regulator.
Scheme Parameter
ICPMS
Comments
There was a single exceedance of the aesthetic guideline limit for iron during the reporting period. A value of 0.320 mg/L was recorded at Edmonton Down St Park on 20 February 2024. Investigations indicated no evidence of tampering or damage to fittings. The site and adjacent hydrants were flushed and follow-up sampling returned results below the ADWG limit.
CopperlodeBehana
ICPMS
There was a single result below the ADWG lower aesthetic limit of 6.5 reported at Bessie Point. The remaining exceedances were beyond the upper limit of 8.5 and occurred at various sites within the scheme. Yorkeys Knob, Holloways Beach and Edmonton experienced the highest number of exceedances, followed by Trinity Beach and Smithfield. Elevated pH levels are often linked to interactions between the water and cement-lined pipes in the distribution network. Water with a pH above 8 can reduce the effectiveness of chlorine disinfection. Council closely monitors disinfection performance by testing microbial indicators to ensure that elevated pH levels do not compromise the efficiency of chlorine treatment.
Scheme Parameter
Queensland Health has established an interim guideline value for chlorate concentrations in drinking water. During investigative monitoring in the Mountain View scheme, two exceedances were detected. These were reported to the regulator and are detailed further in the Notifying the Regulator section.
Queensland Health has established an interim guideline value for chlorate concentrations in drinking water. During investigative monitoring in the Orchid Valley scheme, there was a single exceedance. This was reported to the regulator and are detailed further in the Notifying the Regulator section.
A single exceedance of the aesthetic guideline limit was recorded on 18 March 2024 with a result of 0.146mg/L. The sample was obtained while treatment was being bypassed and the scheme was subject to a Boil Water Advisory. Further details of the associated event can be found in the Notifying the Regulator section.
Routine sampling conducted by laboratory staff at an Orchid Valley reticulation site returned a total chlorine result of 5.9mg/L, greater than the ADWG health limit of 5mg/L. This incident was reported to the regulator and corrective actions are detailed in the Notifying the Regulator section.
E. coli is used as a sanitary quality marker, its presence indicates a greater risk that faecal related microbial pathogens are present. Most strains of E. coli are harmless and are found in great quantities in the intestines of humans and warm-blooded animals; certain strains may however cause illness. The Queensland drinking water standard (Public Health Regulation 2018, s52) requires that a minimum of 98% of samples collected over a 12-month period detect no E. coli.
A summary of E. coli results for each drinking water supply scheme is provided as Table 15, broken down into monthly performance for each scheme in the following Tables, 16 through 24.
Data sourced from CRC Laboratory database.
Drinking water scheme: BARTLE FRERE
Drinking water scheme: BABINDA
Drinking water scheme:
Drinking water scheme: FISHERY FALLS
Drinking water scheme: MIRRIWINNI
Council-wide water quality performance trends for the reporting period are depicted as figures 2 through 12, followed by a scheme-specific tables providing treated water summary statistics.
Figure 2: Turbidity - Treated Water Reticulation
Result ADWG Aesthetic Maximum
Turbidity is a measure of the light scattering property of water caused by the presence of fine suspended matter. Maintaining low turbidity is crucial because elevated levels of particles can shield microorganisms from disinfection. Ideally, drinking water should exhibit turbidity measuring below 1 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units). The ADWG has established an aesthetic guideline, suggesting a turbidity level of 5 NTU. No specific health-related threshold has been defined. In the 2023-2024 reporting period, there was a notable cluster of elevated results associated with an iron bacteria event in the Orchid Valley scheme. This event was reported to the regulator and is detailed further in the Notifying the Regulator section.
Figure 3: pH - Treated Water Reticulation
pH Treated Water Reticulation
pH Treated Water Reservoirs
Result
Results
ADWG Aesthetic Minimum
ADWG Aesthetic Minimum
ADWG Aesthetic Maximum
ADWG Aesthetic Maximum
The ADWG defines an aesthetic pH value range of 6.5 – 8.5. Instances where values fall outside this range do occur however, as indicated in Figure 3. There is no health guideline value for pH, although the ADWG identifies that values less than 4 and greater than 11 may have adverse health impacts. While most test results fall within the recommended range, some results exceeding the 8.5 aesthetic limit are likely due to interactions between the water and cement-lined pipes within the distribution network. Water with a pH higher than recommended range has the potential to hinder the effectiveness of chlorine disinfection, whilst a pH less than 6.5 may corrode plumbing fittings and pipes. To ensure that elevated pH levels do not compromise the efficacy of chlorine, Council closely monitors disinfection performance by testing microbial indicators.
Chlorine in the form of sodium hypochlorite is added to the water supply as part of the treatment process. This occurs both at water treatment plants and at select re-chlorination reservoirs. Chlorine is a common drinking water disinfectant used for pathogen control and it is important to maintain a chlorine residual throughout the distribution network. Based on health considerations, the ADWG specifies a guideline value of maximum 5 mg/L for total chlorine. During the 2023-2024 reporting period, there was one occasion where the ADWG health limit was exceeded. Further details are available in the Notifying the Regulator section.
Temperature is primarily an aesthetic consideration for drinking water and as such, there is no guideline limit. Water temperatures naturally rise during the summer months, with the reticulation system typically experiencing higher temperatures than reservoir storages.
The ADWG has set a limit for aluminium in drinking water based on aesthetic considerations, stating that it should not exceed 0.2 mg/L. There was a single exceedance of the guideline limit during the reporting period, which occurred in the Bartle Frere scheme. The sample was obtained during a period when a partial treatment bypass was in place and customers were subject to a Boil Water Advisory. A follow up sample was taken and showed results had returned to within ADWG limits.
The ADWG has established a health limit of 2 mg/L and an aesthetic limit of 1 mg/L for copper in drinking water. Excessive copper levels can pose health risks, particularly impacting the gastrointestinal system. Additionally, high copper concentrations can affect the aesthetic qualities of water, leading to undesirable taste and discoloration. All drinking water supplied by CRC during the reporting period remained well below the guideline values.
Iron in drinking water supplies can be responsible for an unpleasant taste and discoloration. The ADWG has consequently established an aesthetic guideline value of 0.3 mg/L. There was one instance of this value being exceeded during the 20232024 reporting year. Additional information about this event can be found in Table 14 under the Copperlode/Behana scheme.
The health implications of drinking water containing lead have resulted in the ADWG applying a limit of 0.01mg/L. There were no detections greater than the guideline value during the 2023-2024 reporting period.
Based on aesthetic considerations, the ADWG states that the concentration of manganese in drinking water should not exceed 0.1mg/L. At concentrations higher than this, manganese can impact the taste of water and cause staining to plumbing fixtures. During the reporting period, there was a single exceedance of the aesthetic guideline limit. This occurrence is detailed further in Table 14 under the Orchid Valley scheme. The ADWG health guideline value of 0.5mg/L was not exceeded.
BARTLE FRERE
Table 27: Bellenden Ker Treated Water Summary Statistics
Amoeba - Thermophilic Amoeba 12
Amoeba speciationNaegleria fowleri 1
Amoeba speciation - Naegleria spp 1
Detected
Table 29: Copperlode/Behana Treated Water Summary Statistics *Duplicated
Amoeba - Thermophilic Amoeba 75
Amoeba speciationNaegleria fowleri 1
Amoeba speciation - Naegleria spp 1
Under sections 102 and 102A of the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008, immediate notification to the regulator must occur under each of the following scenarios:
• The quality of water supplied does not comply with the water quality health criteria as specified in the ADWG
• The conditions of our approved DWQMP are not met, including defined Critical Control Points
• Council becomes aware of an incident as otherwise prescribed under legislation
Council made fourteen notifications to DLGWV during the reporting period, the details of each are summarised below.
Scheme Bartle Frere
Parameter/Issue
UV system outage
Incident date 09 December 2023
Event description
Corrective and preventative actions
A fault in the ballast, which regulates the power supplied to the UV lamps, caused the system to shut down due to insufficient intensity. This resulted in a breach of the critical control point limit of 8.5mJ/cm² for more than 30 minutes.
Electricians successfully restored the UV system to full operation by replacing both the faulty ballast and UV intensity sensor. Filtration and chlorination remained in place throughout the event. A treated water sample was obtained on the morning of Sunday 10 December from the routine verification monitoring point to demonstrate that the loss of UV had not resulted in the detection of microbial indicators above ADWG limits.
The UV system is subject to a Preventative Maintenance Program, managed under Council’s Asset Management System. Adjustments have been made to alarm configurations, ensuring immediate notification is paged to on-call officer phones. This has been implemented across all rural schemes.
Parameter/Issue E. coli
Incident date 14 December 2023
Event description An estimated 2CFU/100mL of E. coli was detected in a routine verification monitoring sample collected from Robson Street Reservoir on 14 December 2024. Results were issued by the laboratory the following day, and the regulator was notified.
Corrective and preventative actions
Investigations indicated that all other operational and verification monitoring was within specifications in the time leading up to, and during the detection. Disinfection and chlorine residual were maintained, and all verification monitoring for adjacent sites was within ADWG limits.
A resample was collected on 15 December, which tested <1CFU/100mL, below the ADWG limits.
The initial detection is believed to have resulted from environmental contamination whilst sampling caused by adverse weather conditions during TC Jasper. Risk of sample contamination is managed through the Laboratory’s NATA accreditation, which includes continual review of the sampling procedure. It was found that procedures were followed correctly and that samples are collected with all due care and practicable actions to prevent environmental contamination. Scheduling requirements for verification monitoring necessarily result in samples being obtained during inclement weather at times.
Parameter/Issue
Partial treatment bypass
Incident date 16 December 2023 – 6 January 2024
Event description
Corrective and preventative actions
Council is currently undertaking a planning study to review the rural water supply schemes to confirm existing source, treatment and network capability and constraints under both normal and extreme climate conditions. Deliverables include the development of an emergency water supply plan and options assessment. The study will inform the decision on whether to introduce alternative filtration arrangements. Scheme Copperlode/Behana
High raw water turbidity associated with heavy rainfall from TC Jasper, coupled with increased demand, resulted in the depletion of the Bartle Frere treated water storage reservoir to critical levels.
In order to maintain water supply during the ongoing extreme weather event, the decision was made to issue a Boil Water Advisory BWA to allow for the partial bypass of the treatment process, thereby allowing reservoir inflows to exceed outflows and replenish storage levels to maintain supply.
Letters were hand delivered to residents to advise a Boil Water Advisory was in place. Whilst filtration was bypassed, both chlorination and UV remained operational. All treatment barriers were reinstated on 21 December, however the BWA remained in place as a precautionary measure while resources remained limited in the aftermath of TC Jasper. Laboratory sampling conducted on 3 and 4 January confirmed that all results were compliant with the ADWG limits and in consultation with the regulators, the BWA was lifted on 6 January 2024.
Scheme Copperlode/Behana
Parameter/Issue
Incident date
Event description
Corrective and preventative actions
Low supply following extreme weather event TC Jasper
17 December 2023
Access restrictions, high raw water turbidity and intake blockages resulting from extreme weather event TC Jasper and associated flooding led to low supply within the Copperlode/Behana Scheme.
Water conservation measures were initiated through the issuance of Community Service Announcements (CSAs), gradually escalating to emergency use only. Despite initial challenges accessing the primary intake at Crystal Cascades due to flooding, subsequent successful attempts enabled the activation of the onsite backup generator, clearance of intake blockages, and the reinstatement of flows to the Freshwater Water Treatment Plant on 18 December.
Simultaneously, efforts were directed towards isolating and repairing areas where infrastructure had sustained damage or breaks occurred. Assessments were conducted for clearing access to the Behana intake, which was successfully brought online with reduced flows from 22 December. The network stabilised as reservoirs replenished capacity and a CSA was issued on 2 January advising that residents were no longer required to conserve water.
Council is currently progressing with the design and construction of a new water treatment plant, which will receive water from the existing Behana Creek intake and a new abstraction point from the Mulgrave River. This strategic approach aims to enhance the resilience of the water supply system, particularly during extreme weather events, by minimising potential disruptions to water treatment and distribution.
Parameter/Issue
Incident date
Disruption to treatment processes during TC Jasper
18 December 2023 – 5 January 2024
Event description A power outage following TC Jasper and associated flooding led to the disruption of UV and chlorination processes at the Orchid Valley Water Treatment Plant.
Corrective and preventative actions
A precautionary Boil Water Advisory was issued on the morning of 18 December following the loss of power at the Orchid Valley intake and reservoir site. Although no untreated water was fed into the network, communications with the site were intermittent and floodwaters prevented immediate access by Council personnel to rectify the issue.
Mains power was restored on 22 December and all treatment barriers were reinstated. Laboratory samples collected on 2 and 3 January 2024 returned results within ADWG limits and the BWA was lifted on 5 January, in consultation with the regulators.
Parameter/Issue
Incident date
Event description
Corrective and preventative actions
Chlorate
9 January 2024
Ongoing investigative monitoring into chlorate concentrations within the rural supplies returned a result of 1.15mg/L in the Bellenden Ker scheme, exceeding the Qld Health interim guideline limit.
Initial investigations determined that the sample was collected the day prior to the onsite sodium hypochlorite tank being refilled and may have been elevated due to the age of the product. The network was flushed and resampled at both the reticulation sample point and the hypochlorite storage tank on 24th January 2024. The resample returned a result of 0.62mg/L, below the Queensland Health guideline.
Council has implemented an interim management process for the Rural Water Supply Schemes whilst the Rural Water Security Strategy is finalised which may identify infrastructure solutions.
Scheme Bramston Beach
Parameter/Issue UV system bypass
Incident date 10 February 2024
Event description
Corrective and preventative actions
Following a routine bag filter replacement conducted on the morning of 9 February, the Bramston Beach UV system remained inadvertently in bypass, which resulted in the reservoir filling with partially treated water. Filtration and chlorination remained operational and within normal parameters.
All treatment barriers were reinstated by 10am on Saturday 10 February. In consultation with Qld Health, a precautionary Boil Water Advisory was issued. Follow-up sampling by NATA Laboratory Services was conducted on 12 and 13 February. Laboratory results indicated all parameters were within acceptable limits and SCADA trends demonstrated the UV system was operating effectively, allowing the BWA to be lifted.
The process for conducting a bag filter change has been reviewed and adjusted to ensure safeguards against potential human errors. The documented standard operating procedure for this practice has been updated to reflect the process change.
Scheme Mountain View and Orchid Valley
Parameter/Issue Chlorate
Incident date
Event description
Corrective and preventative actions
19 February 2024
Ongoing investigative monitoring into chlorate concentrations within the rural supplies detected levels of 0.9mg/L in the Mountain View and Orchid Valley schemes, exceeding the Qld Health interim guideline limit.
Onsite sodium hypochlorite storages within each scheme were emptied, cleaned and refilled with fresh solution. Follow-up samples were obtained on 11 March, confirming that the fresh solution had reduced the concentration of chlorate to acceptable levels.
Investigative monitoring is ongoing, additionally CRC has implemented an interim management process for the Rural Water Supply Schemes whilst the Rural Water Security Strategy is finalised which may identify infrastructure solutions. Measures include:
• In-house management of chlorine deliveries to rural sites and maintenance of onsite chemical storage to increase turnover and minimise storage times
• Development of a standard operating procedure for managing sodium hypochlorite storages at rural sites, including scheduling routine tank cleaning
• Development of a chlorate management plan to guide proactive management efforts
Scheme Bramston Beach
Parameter/Issue
Incident date
Event description
Corrective and preventative actions
UV system outage
21 February 2024
A UV system outage was identified on the morning of 22 February during routine remote checks. Whilst SCADA trends suggested that the UV had resumed normal operation, it was observed that the reservoir had been filled for approximately 3 hours while the UV was offline. Investigations revealed that that the primary cause of the event was a coding error for a specific sequence associated with the logic control of the Remote Terminal Unit (RTU), leading to the UV system failing to initiate as intended.
In consultation with Queensland Health, it was decided to issue a Boil Water Advisory. On the morning of 22 February a Community Service Announcement (CSA) was released, and letters were hand-delivered to residents.
The logic of the RTU was thoroughly investigated and amended to prevent a recurrence of the issue. The system underwent testing to replicate the original event and ensure the changes were successful. The Laboratory Services team conducted follow-up sampling on 26 and 27 February. All results were within ADWG limits supporting the lifting of the BWA on 1 March in consultation with the regulators.
Scheme Orchid Valley
Parameter/Issue
Incident date
Event description
Corrective and preventative actions
Iron related bacteria
February – May 2024
Elevated concentrations of colour, turbidity, and metals—believed to be caused by iron-related bacteria—were detected in the Orchid Valley scheme which required a precautionary Boil Water Advisory while treatment processes were bypassed to undertake system cleaning.
Following an observed increase in colour and subsequent laboratory testing indicating presence of iron related bacteria, a precautionary BWA was issued on 15 March to enable the bypass of the filtration and UV system, allowing operators to inspect and clean the treatment components and pipework within the pump station.
The installation of temporary tanks allowed the reservoir to be taken offline, inspected, and the network thoroughly cleaned. An ongoing investigative monitoring program has been developed to include a broader test suite and additional sampling sites. All treated water parameters have demonstrated compliance with the ADWG, and with all treatment barriers in place the BWA was lifted on 16 May 2024.
A consultant has been engaged to provide expert advice on addressing iron-related bacteria in the Orchid Valley Water Supply Scheme. The scope of this project includes the following objectives:
• Identify the source or root cause of the iron-related bacteria in the reticulation supply network
• Recommend short-term and long-term measures to minimise the risk of ironrelated bacteria entering the reticulation supply network
• Prepare concept design drawings for the preferred option, suitable for Council to use as the basis for engineering design
Scheme Bramston Beach and Bellenden Ker Parameter/Issue Chlorate
Incident date
Event description
Corrective and preventative actions
13 March 2024
Ongoing investigative monitoring into chlorate concentrations within the rural supplies detected levels of 0.92mg/L and 1.06mg/L in the Bramston Beach and Bellenden Ker schemes, exceeding the Qld Health interim guideline limit.
Onsite sodium hypochlorite storages within both schemes were emptied, cleaned and refilled with fresh solution. Follow-up samples were obtained on 24 April, confirming that the fresh solution had reduced the concentration of chlorate to acceptable levels. Investigative monitoring is ongoing, additionally CRC has implemented an interim management process for the Rural Water Supply Schemes whilst the Rural Water Security Strategy is finalised which may identify infrastructure solutions. Measures include:
• In-house management of chlorine deliveries to rural sites and maintenance of onsite chemical storage to increase turnover and minimise storage times
• Development of a standard operating procedure for managing sodium hypochlorite storages at rural sites, including scheduling routine tank cleans
• Development of a chlorate management plan to guide proactive management efforts
Incident date 9 April 2024
Event description
Corrective and preventative actions
Routine sampling conducted by laboratory staff at an Orchid Valley reticulation site returned a total chlorine result greater than the ADWG health limit of 5mg/L. The chlorine residual setpoint had been increased in response to an ongoing water quality event in the scheme, which was subject to a BWA at the time. It was determined that a scaling issue with the analyser resulted in an overdose of sodium hypochlorite.
Staff acted immediately to attend site and lower the chlorine dosing set point from 3mg/L to 1.2mg/L. Scouring and network flushing were commenced to reduce reservoir levels before further dilution through the introduction of filtered and UV treated water. Staff conducted chlorine tests throughout the network to verify concentrations had returned to acceptable levels, below the ADWG health guideline value of 5 mg/L. Chlorine dosing resumed only after it was confirmed that the scaling issue was resolved, and the residual had fallen below the nominal set point.
Cairns Regional Council recognises the benefit of community engagement; we value customer feedback as it enables us to continuously improve our services and confidence in our water quality. So that we can investigate and take any appropriate action, we encourage customers or members of the community to lodge a request for service if drinking water fails to meet their expectations or our standards.
An example of this can be seen in the previous section, where community reports of non-typical water colour in Orchid Valley prompted an investigation into that scheme’s water quality. All feedback is captured, recorded and monitored to help identify any trends and possible areas of improvement in the operation, maintenance and management of water networks.
Customers can raise urgent or non-urgent problems about drinking water quality with Council by:
My Cairns app
https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/council/contact-us
Customer Service 1300 69 22 47
Council Chambers, 119-145 Spence Street, Cairns
The Council defines a complaint as a customer being unsatisfied with the resolution of their request for service, see our complaints process here https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/council/contact-us/complaints-disclosures. The regulator categorises all requests for service as “complaints”, including when they are enquiries or are readily resolved. During 2023-2024 Council received a total of 155 requests for service regarding drinking water, for the purpose of this statutory report, the regulator’s definition of complaint has been applied.
Complaints are categorised as referring to a non-typical odour/taste or non-typical colour in the water, as mentioning a health concern, or as “other” because they did not fall into one of those three categories. ‘Bubbly’ or ‘hot’ water, or inclusions such as sand were some of the qualities described in the “other” complaints. 21 of the 155 complaints were assigned to more than one category prior to the proportion of each category being calculated, presented as Figure 13:
• 24.9% non-typical odour/taste
• 50.3% non-typical colour
• 8.6% mentioned a health concern
• 16.2% other
Figure 13: Customer complaints about drinking water by category
This reporting period an average of 12.9 complaints were received per month, see Figure 14. January 2024 recorded the highest number of complaints, however five of those occurrences were of a duplicate nature. This increased duplication may be attributable to a slower response time as crews triaged complaints by urgency in the aftermath of TC Jasper.
Figure 14: Trends of customer complaints throughout the 2023-2024 reporting period
Council maintains a web page which provides an overview of all drinking water supply systems and results of water quality testing https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/water-waste-roads/water-supply-and-use/sources-and-supply. Live information about planned and unplanned water service interruptions is available on the web page, https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/water-waste-roads/ service-interruptions.
By design of Council’s DWQMS, audits, data review, the incident investigation process, research projects, and benchmarking against industry best practice all identify opportunities for improvement of assets and operational practices. Improvement projects approved by Council’s Management team are managed and monitored within the Risk Management Improvement Program (RMIP), an important tool for ensuring that DWQMP objectives are tracked and implemented. Items in the RMIP are prioritised according to risk, which informs planning for capital expenditure and operational works. Contingency funds are identified where a project is required to manage an unforeseen significant risk. Table 38 summarises the status of each RMIP item, including those projects implemented during the 2023-2024 financial year.
MPROVE-0012
IMPROVE-0023
Copperlode/ Behana
IMPROVE-0027
Security of the water supply system – Draper Road Water Treatment Plant (WTP)
Security of the water supply system – Tunnel Hill Electrical & Communications
Treatment – Tunnel Hill WTP Filter Upgrades
Progress Cairns Water Security Stage 1 (CWSS1) Project
Condition assessment and masterplan to be undertaken to enhance the performance and reliability of the water treatment plant, ensuring the consistent delivery of safe and reliable water to the community
Refurbishment program for the six direct filtration dual media filters at Freshwater WTP
IMPROVE-0032 Water supply continuity - Asset condition Treated water reservoir renewal program
IMPROVE-0033
Security of the Water Supply System – Crystal Cascades Water Intake
IMPROVE-0022 Risk assessment procedure
High level options analysis for upgrade or replacement for the Crystal Cascades water intake emergency generator
Review and update the Drinking Water Quality Risk Assessment procedure including linkage between the Risk Register and RMIP
30/06/2026 In progress. Design and construction underway.
30/06/2024 Complete
30/06/2025
In progress. Filters 1, 3 & 4 complete. Filter 2 works underway, 5 & 6 yet to commence.
31/12/2025 In progress
01/03/2025 In progress. Project submission for upgrades underway.
30/11/2024
IMPROVE-0026 Cyber Security
IMPROVE-0029
Water Quality - Elevated disinfection by-product (chlorate) above Qld health guideline value (0.8mg/L)
Project to identify areas where security improvements are required in order to meet current industry standards, therefore preventing operational outages, data loss and regulatory non-compliance
Initial investigative monitoring of chlorate levels in the rural schemes
Sodium hypochlorite supply chain and management of storage investigation
Develop and implement work instruction for the management of sodium hypochlorite storages at rural treatment sites
Investigative monitoring of chlorate concentrations of treated water within the Copperlode/Behana network
Development of a chlorate action plan for consideration by CIA Management
Ongoing investigative monitoring of chlorate concentrations within the rural treated water network
In progress. Alignment of CIA risk registers to increase accuracy of risk identification whilst reducing the number of risks and influencing the decision-making process.
25/06/2028 In progress
31/12/2023 Complete
31/12/2023 Complete
19/05/2024 Complete
01/03/2026
31/08/2024
In progress. Currently compiling monitoring plan proposal.
In progress. Draft Action Plan prepared and ready for review by key stakeholders.
30/06/2025 In progress. Currently sampling on a monthly basis subject to annual review.
IMPROVE-0030 Staff training & awareness
Review, update and enhance skills analysis for Water Services and Treatment personnel. Consider including a Verification of Competency (VoC)
30/03/2025 Not started
All
IMPROVE-0030 Staff training & awareness
IMPROVE-0031 Operation and verification monitoring programs
Undertake full training with all indoor and outdoor staff to ensure those newly appointed to roles are suitably briefed. This includes SAMP, PMO, US. Utilise internal training resources and Aquacard training
Comprehensive review (through audit process) and optimisation of operational and verification monitoring plans to ensure currency and adequacy to manage supply quality risk
Review and update the Laboratory Services Service Level Agreement (SLA).
01/09/2024 Complete
IMPROVE-0034 Water quality data
IMPROVE-0036 Asset Condition Monitoring
IMPROVE-0037 Documented procedures and system overview
Undertake review of water quality data (from source to supply) to inform risk assessment and identify trends
SCADA Upgrade and Improvement ProgramStrategic asset planning for SCADA network assets not currently meeting industry standards and/or reaching end of life.
Documentation identified as part of the DWQMP review requires updating to ensure relevance and currency - Review and identify any network changes required to be reflected in the Network Trunk Schematic and update using CAD.
30/09/2024 In progress
31/11/2024 Not started
30/11/2024 Complete
IMPROVE-0025
IMPROVE-0024
Security of the water supply system – Rural Water Supply Security Strategy Program
Planning study to review the rural water supply schemes to confirm existing source, treatment and network capability and constraints under normal and extreme climate conditions. Deliverables include development of an Emergency Water Supply Plan and Options Assessment
Security of the water supply system – Rural filter upgrade
IMPROVE-0035 Knowledge and documentation for water supply system
Babinda IMPROVE-0038 Distribution network
Orchid Valley IMPROVE-0039
Russell Heads (non-potable supply)
Treatment – iron related bacteria contributing to elevated turbidity, colour and metals
IMPROVE-0004 Water Supply
15/06/2026 In progress
01/06/2025
Target due date extended to permit updates to be made prior to next DWQMP review.
30/06/2025 In progress
Upgrade bag filters in the rural schemes to mechanically selfcleaning filters TBA
Development of functional descriptions for all rural water treatment sites
Fishery Falls upgrade complete. Remaining schemes on hold pending outcomes of the rural water supply security strategy program.
01/03/2025 In progress
Develop site plans for rural WTP sites to support the functional descriptions 31/10/2024 In progress
Installation of an auto-flushing device in the Babinda scheme to reduce requirement for manual flushing and ensure target chlorine residuals are achieved
Orchid Valley Water Treatment Investigation and Concept Design consultancy
Review risk assessment based on findings of Orchid Valley investigation consultancy
Finalise construction of new mains
Develop and implement Russell Heads non-potable water communications strategy
30/04/2024 Complete
28/02/2025 In progress
28/02/2025 Not started
21/12/2023 Complete
21/12/2023 Complete
Drinking Water Quality Improvement Projects
In addition to the RMIP, Council demonstrates its commitment to providing safe, reliable drinking water through the delivery of capital projects. Works undertaken on water infrastructure and the amount spent for the 2023-2024 financial year included:
• Cairns Water Security Strategy Stage 1 $29,050,831
• Water main refurbishment program $4,179,171
• Smart Water Meters - Phase 2 $3,281,290
• Mount Peter High Level Water Reservoir and associated infrastructure $1,917,312
• New revenue water meter installations $1,364,982
• Freshwater WTP filter upgrade $1,206,251
• Water meter replacements $969,317
• Rocky Creek Trunk water mains $710,123
• Freshwater WTP sodium hypochlorite system upgrade $515,185
• Panguna St Reservoir refurbishment $493,557
• Replacement of commercial water meters $484,776
• Smithfield Village land for trunk water main $402,549
• Water supply upgrade for Lake Morris and Ferntree catchments $346,766
• Edge Hill Reservoir refurbishment $338,352
• Bayview Large Reservoir refurbishment $313,280
• Copperlode Dam safety and access upgrade $286,298
• Sodium hypochlorite upgrades $285,546
• Freshwater WTP raw water upgrade $241,055
• Emergency Water Supply Plan $240,541
• Dempsey St Reservoir A & B structural assessment and refurbishment $231,128
• SCADA 4G emergency roll out of routers $224,808
• Rural Water Supply Security Strategy Program $191,474
• Mount Peter Estate Stage 9 - Trunk Water Mains $166,372
• Strombus Avenue, Trinity Beach Road trunk water main extension $158,941
• Warren Road Water Pump Station renewal $148,994
• Brinsmead Reservoir renewal $137,204
• Discovery Drive Water Pump Station upgrade $112,900
• Replacement of laboratory equipment $112,123
• Crystal Cascades raw water control valve replacement $98,827
• Freshwater WTP Clearwater Reservoir flowmeter replacement $86,433
• Sodium hypochlorite sites remediation works $84,341
• Freshwater WTP Clearwater Reservoir remediation $83,651
• Ponticello Water Pump Station renewal $81,798
• Goldsborough Water Pump Station upgrade $75,307
• City View Water Pump Station renewal $72,333
• Chatham Terrace Water Pump Station renewal $69,930
• Freshwater WTP access road upgrade $56,819
• SCADA Upgrade and Improvement Program $49,292
• Mountain View B Water Reservoir renewal $45,715
• Freshwater WTP electrical condition assessment and masterplan $44,582
• Tills Street water main replacement $39,828
• Russell Heads water supply improvement works $37,832
• Centenary High Reservoir refurbishment $34,496
• Freshwater WTP trunk valve building renewal & chlorine analyser $34,112
• Freshwater WTP Clearwater Reservoir outlet valve and flowmeter replacement $30,275
• Trinity Beach booster pump system $25,401
• Freshwater WTP service water system refurbishment $24,728
• Northern Beaches trunk water main (Kamerunga Rd to Lake Placid) $24,484
• Palm Cove Reservoir refurbishment $22,726
• Mountain View Water Pump Station renewal $22,334
• Replacement of water lab field instruments $18,758
• Bartle Frere Reservoir refurbishment $17,906
• Tobias Close A & B Reservoir refurbishment $17,024
• Barron View Reservoir refurbishment $15,187
• University Reservoir leak and structural integrity remediation $13,146
• Trunk reservoir and major intake access condition assessment $11,655
• Crest Close Reservoir refurbishment $8,528
• Goldsborough Mid Reservoir refurbishment $8,486
• Crystals Cascades/Copperlode/Freshwater WTP communications upgrade $7,435
• Runnymead Reservoir refurbishment $7,325
• Giacomi Water Main extension $6,900
• Falcon Street (High) Reservoir refurbishment $5,089
• Goldsborough water supply flow meter installations $5,085
• Bramston Beach Integrated Water Management scheme review $4,860
• Walker Road, Edmonton replacement of trunk water main $2,240
• Smithfield Village Stage 24 150DN water connection $1,313
• Bessie Point construction of inlet and outlet mains and ancillary works $1,237
Drinking Water Quality Management Plan Review
Since our last Annual Report, Council has undertaken a formal DWQMP review against DLGWV’s Guideline for the preparation, review and audit of drinking water quality management plans (Version 3, 2022). The review process utilised an internal stakeholder engagement approach to assess the following elements, which resulted in an amended DWQMP being submitted to DLGWV on 10 May 2024:
• Registered service details
• Details of infrastructure for providing the service
• Identify hazards and hazardous events
• Information gathering – water quality and catchment characteristics
• Assessment of risks
• Operation and maintenance procedures
• Management of incidents and emergencies
• Risk management improvement program
• Operational monitoring
• Verification monitoring
• Future Water Supply
• Other amendments within the DWQMP to reflect current systems and processes
The DLGWV approved Council’s amended plan through the issuing of an Information Notice on 15 August 2024. Under the approval, Council is required to review the plan by 31 March 2026 and every two years thereafter. Council actively promotes those elements of the current DWQMP relevant to each work group and maintains version control through the corporate document management system.
Pursuant to subsection 99(2)(c) of the Water Supply (Safety & Reliability) Act 2008, audits of the DWQMP must be undertaken by an external party with relevant qualifications at a frequency stipulated by the regulator. The most recent regulatory audit occurred in March 2021, the findings of which and resulting actions were reported in the 2020-2021 Annual Report, available on Council’s website. The next audit is scheduled to be conducted by 30 June 2025.
ADWG
Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (2011). Published by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia
CRC Cairns Regional Council
DLGWV Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers
DWQMP Drinking Water Quality Management Plan
DWQMS Drinking Water Quality Management System
HACCP Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points - certification for protecting drinking water quality
LOR Limit of Reporting
NATA National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia
VMP Verification Monitoring Program
SWIM Statewide Water Information Management; a database used by Water Service Providers to report data on water and sewerage services to numerous State and Commonwealth agencies
